WIRED has published its monthly roundup of the best movies available on streaming services, highlighting a mix of new releases and retro classics. The selection includes director Yorgos Lanthimos's twisted Frankenstein reimagining Poor Things on Netflix, the stunning Mexican stop-motion feature I Am Frankelda also on Netflix, and the complete Bill & Ted trilogy on Prime Video. Retro offerings include Steven Spielberg's A.I. Artificial Intelligence on Hulu and Sean Connery's first three James Bond films on Criterion Channel.
New Releases and Standouts
Poor Things – Netflix. Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and starring Emma Stone, Willem Dafoe, Ramy Youssef, and Mark Ruffalo. Based on Alasdair Gray's novel, the film follows Bella Baxter, a reanimated woman with a childlike mind who embarks on a journey of self-discovery across Europe. WIRED calls it "a visually lavish, almost indescribable strange experience."
I Am Frankelda – Netflix. Mexico's first stop-motion animated feature, directed by... (the source does not name the director). The story follows Francisca Imelda (voiced by Mireya Mendoza) in 1800s Mexico, who is taken to the monstrous world of Topus Terrentus by Prince Herneval (Arturo Mercado Jr. in Spanish, Claudis Bridgeforth in English). She must become the new "nightmare teller" but faces competition from the incumbent, a demonic spider named Procustes (Luis Leonardo Suárez; Mark Lewis). WIRED describes it as "an exquisitely crafted, visually astounding masterpiece" combining elements of The Nightmare Before Christmas, Pan's Labyrinth, and Alice in Wonderland.
Retro Revivals
Bill & Ted Trilogy – Prime Video. All three films are available: Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1988), Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (1991), and Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020). The films star Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves as the titular slackers whose music inspires a utopian future.
A.I. Artificial Intelligence – Hulu. Steven Spielberg's 2001 film "lands very differently in 2026," according to WIRED.
Early James Bond – Criterion Channel. Sean Connery's first three 007 outings — Dr. No, From Russia With Love, and Goldfinger — are now streaming on the specialist platform.
Streaming Platforms Overview
| Movie | Platform | Genre | Key Talent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poor Things | Netflix | Dark comedy/Sci-fi | Yorgos Lanthimos, Emma Stone, Willem Dafoe |
| I Am Frankelda | Netflix | Stop-motion horror | Mireya Mendoza, Arturo Mercado Jr. |
| Bill & Ted Trilogy | Prime Video | Comedy/Sci-fi | Alex Winter, Keanu Reeves |
| A.I. Artificial Intelligence | Hulu | Sci-fi/Drama | Steven Spielberg |
| Dr. No, From Russia With Love, Goldfinger | Criterion Channel | Spy/Thriller | Sean Connery |
WIRED also notes that Shudder is streaming The Voices of Our Mother, a horror film about demonic possession and family secrets. The monthly list includes 12 picks in total; the source text explicitly covers five of them.
For trade professionals in the entertainment sector, these streaming releases reflect ongoing content acquisition strategies by major platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, and Criterion Channel. The presence of international productions such as Mexico's I Am Frankelda highlights cross-border content licensing trends, though specific trade data is not provided.
What to watch: The arrival of these films on streaming services underscores the continuous churn of library content as platforms compete for subscriber engagement. Next month's list will likely feature a new set of releases.
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